Gauchos Rally in the Ninth to Defeat UC Davis, 3-2

DAVIS, Calif. - Shane Carlson singled to left field with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to drive home Chris McMurray from second base and Justin Segal retired all three Aggie batters in the bottom half of the inning to give UC Santa Barbara a 3-2 victory over UC Davis in a non-conference baseball game at Dobbins Stadium in Davis on Friday.

Freshman pitcher Mike Ford threw seven effective innings in the win, but did not register a decision. He was locked in a dual with Aggie starter Brad Mcatee (4-4). Ford allowed just one unearned run and nine hits in his seven innings. Mcatee went 8.2 innings and gave-up seven hits and three runs, all earned. He was tagged with the defeat. Segal (3-4) was credited with the victory.

Santa Barbara jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Junior center fielder Chris Fox opened the game by doubling to right field. The hit extended his hitting streak to 20 consecutive games. Second baseman Pat Rose moved Fox to third with a flyout to center field. First baseman Robbie Blauer then grounded out to score him with the game's first run.

The Gauchos led 1-0 until the top of the fourth when they scored their second run.

Blauer singled to right and one out later, freshman designated hitter Cody Dee singled to right, moving Blauer to second. Catcher Chris McMurray walked to load the bases and then right fielder Mario Lewis singled into left field, scoring Blauer to give UCSB a 2-0 lead. Carlson grounded into a double play to end the threat.

UC Davis then scored runs in the seventh and eighth innings to tie things up at 2-2. Demspey drove home the first Aggie run in the seventh with a sacrifice bunt that scored Michael Jacobellis from third base. Kevin James then tied the game in the next inning with a single that scored right fielder Aaron Hanke.

The Gauchos scored a run in the ninth to secure the victory.

After the first two batters popped out to begin the Gauchos' ninth, catcher Chris McMurray singled to center field and advanced to second on the next play after an error that was charged to the Aggie third baseman. A single by Lewis brought McMurray home from second and gave UCSB the victory.

Segal retired UC Davis in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.

The victory by Santa Barbara ends a four-game losing streak and improves the Gauchos' record to 22-26. Davis drops to 21-29.

UCSB and UCD will play game two of the series on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in Davis, Calif.